Facts & Data - Work Force
Great Falls and the surrounding area have a very healthy untapped labor market. Most of the workers in the area are willing to travel for good paying jobs with benefits. From skilled professionals to trainable laborers, our workers are affordable, motivated and ready to help your company reach its potential. Additionally, Great Falls and Cascade County workers have an educational attainment that is at/above both Montana and US averages. When you consider Great Falls boasts the Montana State University – Great Falls College of Technology, and the University of Great Falls as well as a number of satellite campus for institutions such as University of Montana, Emory Riddle, Troy State, and others – you will realize Great Falls is a city where an educated work force can help you reach your goals.
Work Force Survey - 2008-09
Great Falls and Cascade County are part of the Sweetgrass Economic Development Region which includes the counties of Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole. As part of a regional project to identify strategy for economic diversification, the region hired SSRI University of North Dakota to conduct a Labor Market Survey. This survey found that the Sweetgrass Region offers local and regional employers a well-educated, moderate-cost, quality workforce. The skill base of the available workforce ranges across several occupational groups including entry-level clerical and administrative assistants, health care support, sales and related, building, grounds cleaning and maintenance, post, primary and secondary teachers and transportation and material moving as the largest groups. We encourage you to read the entire Labor Survey Report. You'll be pleasantly surprised at all Great Falls and the region can offer your business to meet your workforce needs.
Employment Profile
(in alphabetical order)
Employment Size Class Code
- Class 9 – 1000+ employees
- Class 8 = 500-999 employees
- Class 7 = 250-499 employees
- Class 6 = 100-249 employees
- Class 5 = 50-99 employees
- Class 4 = 20-49 employees
- Class 3 = 10-19 employees
Industry Annual Average Employment Data
Industry data for Cascade County - most recent year available 2008.
|
Industry
|
Number of Establishments
|
Average Annual Employment
|
Average Wages Per Job
|
|
Total All Industries
|
2,738
|
35,740
|
$31,980
|
|
TOTAL PRIVATE
|
2,630
|
30,183
|
$30,368
|
|
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, FISHING & HUNTING
|
31
|
160
|
$26,052
|
|
Crop Production
|
12
|
75
|
$21,320
|
|
Animal Production
|
11
|
73
|
$29,990
|
|
Fishing, hunting & trapping
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Agriculture & forestry support
|
7
|
*
|
*
|
|
MINING
|
3
|
*
|
*
|
|
UTILITIES
|
19
|
183
|
$62,036
|
|
CONSTRUCTION
|
328
|
2,411
|
$37,804
|
|
Construction of buildings
|
101
|
580
|
$33,176
|
|
Heavy & civil engineering construction
|
24
|
591
|
$50,908
|
|
Specialty trade contractors
|
204
|
1,240
|
$33,748
|
|
MANUFACTURING
|
62
|
963
|
$42,328
|
|
Food manufacturing
|
13
|
397
|
$42,224
|
|
Beverage & tobacco product mfg
|
4
|
83
|
$34,580
|
|
Textile product mills
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Leather & allied product manufacturing
|
2
|
*
|
*
|
|
Wood product manufacturing
|
4
|
45
|
$30,836
|
|
Paper manufacturing
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Printing & related support activities
|
6
|
106
|
$37,128
|
|
Petroleum & coal products manufacturing
|
2
|
*
|
*
|
|
Chemical manufacturing
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Plastics & rubber products manufacturing
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Nonmetallic mineral product mfg
|
3
|
36
|
$40,404
|
|
Primary metal manufacturing
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Fabricated metal product manufacturing
|
4
|
11
|
*
|
|
Machinery manufacturing
|
2
|
*
|
*
|
|
Computer & electronic product mfg
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Furniture & related product mfg
|
8
|
69
|
$29,172
|
|
Miscellaneous manufacturing
|
9
|
38
|
$36,400
|
|
WHOLESALE TRADE
|
160
|
1,441
|
$47,008
|
|
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods
|
90
|
886
|
$51,064
|
|
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods
|
43
|
439
|
$40,508
|
|
Electronic markets & agents/brokers
|
27
|
117
|
$40,144
|
|
RETAIL TRADE
|
367
|
5,464
|
$23,192
|
|
Motor vehicle & parts dealers
|
56
|
757
|
$32,136
|
|
Furniture & home furnishings stores
|
25
|
166
|
$24,544
|
|
Electronics & appliance stores
|
26
|
131
|
$29,640
|
|
Building material & garden supply stores
|
27
|
522
|
$28,444
|
|
Food & beverage stores
|
27
|
546
|
$20,436
|
|
Health & personal care stores
|
29
|
284
|
$31,096
|
|
Gasoline stations
|
33
|
560
|
$20,488
|
|
Clothing & clothing accessories
|
41
|
345
|
$15,600
|
|
Sporting good, hobby, book & music stores
|
23
|
335
|
$13,832
|
|
General merchandise stores
|
15
|
1,391
|
$19,552
|
|
Miscellaneous stores retailers
|
56
|
352
|
$20,332
|
|
Non-store retailers
|
10
|
74
|
$51,116
|
|
TRANSPORTATION & WAREHOUSING
|
86
|
932
|
$32,812
|
|
Air Transportation
|
4
|
35
|
$22,308
|
|
Truck Transportation
|
49
|
289
|
$31,824
|
|
Pipeline Transportation
|
3
|
10
|
$65,312
|
|
Support Activities for Transportation
|
11
|
157
|
$33,904
|
|
FINANCE & INSURANCE
|
176
|
1,668
|
$50,492
|
|
PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL SERVICES
|
229
|
1,240
|
$46,072
|
|
HEALTH & SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
|
266
|
5,949
|
$36,140
|
|
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD SERVICES
|
228
|
3,923
|
$10,164
|
|
TOTAL GOVERNMENT
|
108
|
5,557
|
$40,716
|
|
Federal Government
|
48
|
1,626
|
$53,092
|
|
State Government
|
15
|
962
|
$38,896
|
|
Local Government
|
45
|
2,969
|
$34,528
|
Highest Level of Educational Attainment for Great Falls/Cascade County (population 25 years and older)
|
Educational Attainment |
Cascade County |
Montana |
US |
|
Less than high school diploma |
12.9% |
12.8% |
19.6% |
|
High School Diploma (or equivalent) |
33.3% |
31.3% |
28.6% |
|
Some college |
25.5% |
25.6% |
21.0% |
|
Associate Degree |
6.8% |
5.9% |
6.3% |
|
Bachelor’s Degree |
14.8% |
17.2% |
15.5% |
|
Master’s Degree |
4.7% |
4.6% |
5.9% |
|
Professional Degree |
1.6% |
1.7% |
2.0% |
|
Doctoral Degree |
0.3% |
0.9% |
1.0% |
Above information obtained from the Montana Department of Labor Research & Analysis Bureau. For more information or comparable data, please see their web site www.ourfactsyourfuture.org
Military
Malmstrom Air Force Base is located 0.3 miles from the City of Great Falls and is home to the 341st Missile Wing. Malmstrom has been part of the Great Falls community since 1939, and has been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2008 Blanchard, Blackburn, Williams and Moorman Awards for outstanding operations, and the U.S. Strategic Command Consultation Committee's Omaha Trophy. It was named the Best Air Force installation in the continental U.S. in 1999 and has a huge impact on the economy in Great Falls as the following numbers display.
|
Personnel
|
|
|
Active Duty Military
|
3,382
|
|
Civilian Personnel
|
607
|
|
Active Duty Dependents
|
3,250
|
|
Non Appropriated
|
135
|
|
Contract/Private Business
|
616
|
|
Annual Payroll
|
|
|
Military
|
$134,467,761
|
|
Federal Civilian
|
$ 34,572,687
|
|
Other Civilian
|
$ 40,568,106
|
|
Total Payroll
|
$209,608,454
|
** Source 341st Missile Wing, Office of Public Affairs, Economic Impact Analysis 2008 http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090122-044.pdf
